Pull-type frictional resistance exercising device with guide means

ABSTRACT

An exercising device for use with a length of rope and adapted to have one end thereof fastened to a support while the length of rope is pulled back and forth therethrough. The exercising device includes two elongated leg members to receive turns of rope therearound, a neck-like guide portion between the leg members for guiding the rope from one leg member to the other leg member, a retaining bar adjacent the other ends of the leg members to prevent the turns of rope from slipping off the device, and an attachment member on the end of the guide member for supporting the device. A member is also provided adjacent the other end for preventing the portions of rope from becoming entangled.

United States Patent Holkesvick [15] 3,656,745 [451 Apr. 18,1972

[54] PULL-TYPE F RICTIONAL RESISTANCE EXERCISING DEVICE WITH GUIDE MEANSInventor: Edgar E. Holkesvick, 1801 Smokewood,

Fullerton, Calif. 92631 Filed: May 5, 1970 Appl. No.: 34,745

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 693,206,Dec. 26, 1967, Pat. No. 3,510,132.

U.S. Cl. ..272/79 A Int. Cl ..A63b 21/00, A63b 23/04 Field of Search i82/ l 90; 272/79 A, DIG. 3;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,472,510 10/1969 Holkesvick..272/79 A UX Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham AssistantExaminer-William R. Browne Attorney-Nilsson, Robbins, Wills & Berliner[57] ABSTRACT An exercising device for use with a length of rope andadapted to have one end thereof fastened to a support while the lengthof rope is'pulled back and forth therethrough. The exercising deviceincludes two elongated leg members to receive turns of rope therearound,a neck-like guide portion between the leg members for guiding the ropefrom one leg member to the other leg member, a retaining bar adjacentthe other ends of the leg members to prevent the turns of rope fromslipping off the device, and an attachment member on the end of theguide member for supporting the device. A member is also providedadjacent the other end for preventing the portions of rope from becomingentangled.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 18 1922 3, 656.745

INVENTOR.

EDGAR E. I IOLKESUICK,

BY HIS flTTORNEVS lf/msso v, Rosa/N5, M145 9 Baku/wk PULL-TYPEFRICTIONAL RESISTANCE EXERCISING- DEVICE WITH GUIDEMEANSCROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-in-partapplication of the same inventor, with application Ser. No. 693,206,filed Dec. 26, 1967, now US. Pat. No. 3,510,132.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tothe physical conditioning art, and more particularly to a novelFrictional Rer sistance Exercising Device adapted for use in the homeand on the athletic practice field, and by amateur athletes as well asby professional athletes.

At the present time, many men and women-and boys and girls participatein team and individual sports, both on an amateur basis and at theprofessional level; To a certain extent, in due course an athlete'sskill and timing, as such, tend to reach a peak and level off.Consequently, in many instances the main determining factors betweencompetingathletes are physical strength and endurance, which can beimproved upon or increased by physical conditioning or exercising.

Also, because an increase in physical strength and endurance depends toa considerable extent upon thefrequency with which the athleteexercises, it is advantageous to be able to exercise in a home as wellas on the athletic field or in a gymnasium.

In addition, because variousaccessories can be used with exercisingdevices, e.g., a head harness, a shoulder harness, and a runningharness, it is advantageous to be able to quickly interchange suchaccessories.

Businessmen who spend a great amount of their time at a desk in anofiice are often adivsed by their doctors to exercise in moderation asoften as possible, in order to improve their general health.

There are many types of exercising devices for sale and in i use at thepresent time, but many of these are large and cumbersome such that theycan only be used in gymnasiums, whereas others are unduly expensive, andsome are extremely limited in the types of exercises which one canperform with them.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novelFrictional Resistance Exercising Device which is small in size so thatit can be easily transported from one locality to another, and which canbe used in a home or on an athletic field or in a gymnasium.

Another object is to provide such an exercising device which is sturdyand of rugged construction so that it can be used by strong professionalathletes as well as by less welldeveloped amateur athletes.

A further object is to provide an exercising device for use with alength of rope, in which the rope and the handle or harness attachedthereto can be easily and quickly removed'and replaced with anotherlength of rope provided with a different type of handle or harness.

Yet another object is to provide such an exercising device which can beeasily and quickly adjusted to vary the frictional resistance by eventhe most inexperienced person, and which is relatively easy tounderstand and use.

A further and important object of the present invention is to providesuch an exercising device which is relatively inexpensive and which canbe mass-produced.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the presentinvention are shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an adjustableexercising device constructed in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention, shown being used with two-handed handles and incombination with a floorboard to which it is removably attached;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the exercising device shownin-FIG. l;

FIG. 3is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the attachment end of the exercisingdevice of FIG. 1, showing a slightly modified construction;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a modified form of exercising deviceembodying the same general inventive concept; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 inFIG. 5. I

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, andspecifically FIG. 1, the numeral 10 indicates generally the preferredform of an adjustable exercising device embodyingthe teachings of thepresent invention, provided with a length of rope 12 which has atwo-handed handle 14 removably attached at each end thereof, and whichis used in combination with a floorboard 16 by an athlete A.

As shown in FIG. 2, the exercising device 10 includes a frame which ispreferably cast from a lightweight, non-corrosive metal such asaluminum, and which is of generally U- shaped configuration withopposed, elongated, cylindrical leg portions 18 which have smooth outersurfaces and which are of a length to receive several turns of the ropetherearound, and which are interconnected at one set of ends by a curvedportion 20. At the other set of ends is a cross-wide extendingcylindrical retaining bar portion 22 with a smooth outer surface whichis preferably cast integral with the leg portions 18. The retaining barportion is preferably straight, or-at least not concave on the inside sothat the portions of rope 12 are not caused to move together and rub, aswill be discussed more fully hereinafter.

A rigid guide-bar portion 24 extends crosswise between the leg portions18 adjacent the curved end portion 20 to provide a hook-receiving eye 26therebetween, for a purpose to appear. The guide-bar portion 24 is alsopreferably cast integral with the leg portions 18.

Extending inthe direction of the curved portion 20, is a cylindericalneck-like guide element 28 which is preferably cast integral with theguide-bar portion 24.

Parallel with the retaining-bar portion 22 and spaced therefrom adistance greater than the diameter of the rope 12, is an elongatedcylindrical guard bar 34 which is preferably cast integral with the legportions 18.

A generally C-shaped, disengageable barrier member 36- (FIGS. 2 and 3)which is preferably made of spring material, has one end thereoffastened to the retaining bar 22, as with a machine screw 38, and theother end thereof extends to and partially encircles the guard bar 34.As shown in FIG. 3, the free end of the barrier member is bent away fromthe guard bar to provide a finger-engaging portion 40.

The barrier member 36 divides the space between the retaining bar 22 andthe guard bar 34 into two separate passageways for receiving the rope12, so as to preventthe two portions of rope from rubbing upon oneanother or from becoming entangled.

However, when it is desired to insert a bight portion of the ropebetween the retaining bar 22 and the guard bar 34 prior to wrapping therope around the leg portions (as will be described more fullyhereinafter), it is only necessary to disengage the free end of thebarrier member 36 from the guard bar 34 by lifting upwardly on thefinger-engaging portion 40 and move the free end away from the guardbar. After the rope has been inserted, the free end of the barriermember is released, and the spring-like material from which the memberis .formed, causes the free end to reengage the guard bar 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, one method of using the exercising device 10 is witha floorboard 16 which is preferably made from plywood and of rectangularconfiguration and large enough so that the athlete A can stand on it.Fastened to the center of the board 16, and projecting upwardlytherefrom, is a hook 42 which is adapted to extend through the eye 26(FIG.

To insert the rope 12in the exercising device 10 and adjust it prior tothe usage thereof, the center portion of the rope 12 is doubled backupon itself to form a loop or bight and the loop first inserted betweenthe retaining bar 22 and the guard bar 34, the barrier member 36 beingtemporarily disengaged, as described above. The loop is then enlargedand passed over the curved portion 20 of the frame, then passed throughthe opening between the guard bar 34 and the guide bar 24, and

this sequence repeated to provide the desired number of turns of rope 12on each leg portion 18. Finally, the loop of the rope 12 is droppedaround the neck-like guide element 28. The result is illustrated in FIG.2.

As will be obvious from the description of the operation of the devicehereafter, the number of turns of rope 12 around each leg portion 18determines the amount of force which is required to move the ropethrough the device, and therefore the amount of exercise which results.

I As mentioned above, one method of using the adjustable exthat theathlete A, in effect, is grasping both portions of the rope 12 which areconnected to the exercising device.

He then proceeds as follows:

First, while holding the handle and the trailing portion of the rope 12,the athlete A pulls upwardly against. the handle for approximatelyseconds. This is the isometric portion of the exercise.

Secondly, while releasing the holding pressure on the trailing portionof the rope and permitting it to slide through the fingers, his legs arestraightened and the handle pulled upwardly until the athlete A is inthe upright position. This causes the rope 12 to slide through theexercising device and is the beginning of the isotonic portion of theexercise. When the rope 12 is moved through the exercising device 10, itis pulled around one of the leg portions 18, over the guide element 28,around the other leg portion 18 and between the retaining bar portion 22and the guard bar 34.

Thirdly, the trailing portion of the rope 12 is dropped, and

the handle 14 pulled upwardly to a position under the chin, as shown inFIG. 1. And fourthly, the athlete A rotates the handle 14 and pushes itupwardly above his head, at the same time going up on his toes.

If the length of rope between the two handles 14 is properly adjusted,at the end of the aforementioned exercise the handle 14 on the trailingend of the rope will have been pulled to adjacent the exercising device10, whereby the athlete A can grasp the other handle 14 in the mannerpreviously described and repeat the exercise, in which case the portionof the rope first pulled upon then becomes the trailing portion.

In this manner, the length of rope 12 is moved back and forth throughthe exercising device, and in actuality around the leg portions 18 andaround the guide element 28.

It will be readily apparent that the more turns of rope there are oneach leg portion 18, the harder it will be for the athlete to move thehandle 14 upwardly. The suggested procedure is to start with a minimumnumber of turns and gradually increase the number as the personsstrength increases.

With another method of using the subject exercising device, theadjustable exercising device 10 and the floorboard 16 are used with ashoulder harness (not shown) fastened to one end of a rope. Thisaccessory is particularly useful to basketball players in helping todevelop their leg muscles for jumping purposes.

In use, the athlete inserts his arms through the two loops of theshoulder harness and the free end of the rope is pulled through theexerciser 10 until the athlete is in a crouch position with knees bentand shoulders back and head up. With the exerciser adjusted to theproper resistance the athlete presses with his legs to reach thestanding position. The athlete can hold the free or tailing end of therope or it can be held by the coach who can thereby cause an initialhigh resistance, followed by a lesser resistance.

One outstanding advantage of the subject exercising device is the easeand speed with which ropes with different accessories attached theretocan be interchanged. Thus, the athlete can start out with the rope l2and two-handed handles as shown in FIG. 1 and easily change over to ashoulder harness which is fastened to a different length of rope. Toaccomplish this result, the athlete merely removes the loop of the rope12 from engagement with the guide element 28, passes the loop over thecurved portion 20 of the frame, and pulls on both portions of the ropeadjacent the retaining bar 22 and the guard bar 34 until the bight orcenter of the rope engages the barrier member 34. The barrier member isthen disengaged from the guard bar 34, and the rope 12 removed from theexercising device.

He then grasps the alternate rope (with the harness attached thereto),forms a loop or bight in it, inserts it between the guard bar and theretainer bar and loops it over the curved portion 20 and around the legportions, as previously described.

A modified form of exercising device is shown in FIG. 4, wherein the legportions 18, the guide bar portion 24 and the curved end portion 20 arethe same but the short neck-like guide element 28 is replaced with astud 30 which has a roller 32 rotatably mounted thereon. The operationof the devices shown in FIGS.2 and 4 are very similar; the maindifference being that there is less friction at the guide element whenthe roller 32 is used and accordingly, substantially all of thefrictional resistance is achieved at the leg portions 18.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a further modified exercising device 110, shownconnected to a hook 50 which is mounted in a wall 51, or the like.

The device 110, like the device 10, is preferably of unitaryconstruction and cast from a lightweight, non-corrosive metal such asaluminum. It is generally of rectangular configuration, with opposed,elongated, cylinderical leg portions 118 which have smooth outersurfaces and which are of a length to receive several turns of ropetherearound, and which are interconnected at one set of ends by atransversely extending guide bar 124. If desired, the leg portions 118and the guide bar 124 could be in the form of an inverted U".

Projecting from the guide bar 124 adjacent the center thereof, is acylinderical neck-like guide portion 128 which has an enlarged free endwith an aperture 52 therein for receiving the hook number 50.

A retainer bar 122 extends transversely between the leg portions 118adjacent the other set of apposed'ends, and, like the guide bar 124, ispreferably cast integral with the leg portions 118. Spaced from theretainer bar 122 a distance greater than the diameter of the rope 112 tobe used with the device, is a guard bar 134 which also extendstransversely between the leg portions 118 and which is also preferablyformed integral therewith. It will be understood that the retainer andguard bars of the device of FIG. 5, are similar in construction andgperation to the retainer and guard bars of the device of FIG.

A disengagable barrier number 136 divides the space between the guardbar 134 and the retainer bar 122 into two separate rope-receivingpassageways, for the purpose previously described.

The barrier number 136 (FIG. 6) has a tubular body portion 53 with aclosed inner end and an outer end which is provided with a knurled knob54. Opposed longitudinally extending slots 56 and 57 are formed in thewall of the body portion 53.

The retainer bar 122 contains a passageway 58 adjacent the centerthereof for slidably receiving the tubular body portion 53, the free endof the body portion being received in a cavity 60 formed in the guardbar 134. A pin 62 extends through the retainer bar 122, and through theslots 56 and 57. Positioned within the body portion 53 is a coiledspring 64, one end of which engages the closed end of the body portionand the othesrzend bears against a washer 66 which is supported by thepm Thus, it will be apparent that by pulling on the knob 54, the

' user can retract or disengage the barrier number with the spring 64being compressed and the pin 62 sliding in the slots 56 and 57, so as topermit the bight of the rope 112 to be inserted through the spacebetween the guard bar 134 and the retainer bar 122, as previouslydescribed.

When the knob 54 is released, the spring 64 causes the free end of thebody portion 53 to seat in the cavity 60, thereby separating orproviding a barrier between the two portions of rope, as with thespring-like barrier number 36 of FIG. 2.

Thus, it is readily apparent that there have been provided severaldifferent forms of a novel adjustable exercising device,

which fulfill all of the objects and advantages sought therefor andwhich are especially meritorious because of their simplicity andrelatively low cost.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and accompanyingdrawings have been given by way of illustration and example, and thatchanges and alterations in the present disclosure which will be readilyapparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scopeof the present inventron.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising:

two elongated leg members with opposed sets of ends and smooth outersurfaces positioned side-by-side in spaced apart relationship, each legmember being of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound;

a rigid bar member joining together one set of ends;

neck-like guide means having a smooth outer surface for receiving alength of rope in engagement with said outer surface and guiding it fromone leg member to the other leg member, said guide means extending fromsaid bar member intermediate the ends thereof in a direction away fromthe other set of ends;

attachment means connected to the exercising device adjacent said guidemeans, for fastening the device to a support; and V retaining means oneach leg member adjacent the other set of ends for preventing turns ofrope from slipping off of said leg members.

2. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 which includes:

a length of rope wrapped at least partially around one leg member,thence around the neck-like guide means, and at least partially aroundthe other leg member; and

a handle member adjacent each end of the rope.

3. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 in which the retainingmeans comprises a rigid member which extends between the leg membersadjacent said other set of ends; and said exercising device furtherincludes:

' a guard member interconnected with and extending between the legmembers adjacent to and spaced from the retaining means a distancegreater than the diameter of a rope to be used with the device.

4. An exercising device as defined in claim 3 which includes adisengagable barrier member extending between the retaining means andthe guard member separating the space therebetween into two passageways.

5. An exercising device as defined in claim 4 in which the barriermember comprises a spring which has one end thereof fastened to theretaining member or the guard member, and

the other end thereof engages the other of said retaining or guardmember.

6. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 in which the neck-likeguide means has a longitudinal axis which is substantially in the planeformed by the leg members.

7. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising:

two elongated leg members with opposed sets of ends positionedside-by-side in spaced apart relationship, each leg member being of alength to receive several turns of rope therearound; means joiningtogether one set of ends and providing attachment means for fasteningthe device to a support; a llgld guide bar extending between the legmembers adjacent to the attachment means;

neck-like guide means having a smooth outer surface extending from theguide bar toward said attachment means for receiving a length of rope inengagement with said outersurface and guiding it from one leg member tothe other leg member; and 1 retaining means on each leg member adjacentthe other set of ends for preventing turns of rope from slipping off ofsaid leg members.

8. An exercising device as defined in claim 7 in which the retainingmeans comprises a rigid member which extends between the leg membersadjacent said other set of ends; and said exercising device furtherincludes:

a guard member extending between the leg members adjacent to and spacedfrom the retaining means a distance greater than the diameter of a ropeto be used with the device; and

a disengagable barrier member extending between the retaining means andthe guard member separating the space therebetween into two passagewaysfor a rope.

9. An exercising device as defined in claim 7 in which the neck-likeguide means has a longitudinal axis which is substantially in the planeformed by the leg members.

10. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising:

two elongated leg members with opposed sets of ends positionedside-by-side in spaced apart relationship, each leg member being of alength to receive several turns of rope therearound;

a rigid guide bar interconnecting the leg members adjacent one set ofends;

neck-like guide means having an outer end, extending from the guide barfor receiving and guiding a length of rope from one leg member to theother leg member, said guide means extending in a direction away fromthe other set of ends;

an aperture adjacent the outer end of the neck-like guide means forattaching the device to a support; and

retaining means on each leg member adjacent the other set of ends forpreventing turns of rope from slipping off of said leg members.

11. An exercising device as defined in claim 10 in which the retainingmeans comprises a rigid member which extends between the leg membersadjacent said other set of ends; and said exercising device furtherincludes:

a guard member extending between the leg members adjacent to and spacedfrom the retaining means a distance greater than the diameter of a ropeto be used with the device; and

a spring-biased disengagable barrier member extending between theretaining means and the guard member separating the space therebetweeninto two passageways for a rope.

12. An exercising device as defined in claim 10 in which the neck-likeguide means has a longitudinal axis which is substantially in the planefonned by the leg members.

1. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising: twoelongated leg members with opposed sets of ends and smooth outersurfaces positioned side-by-side in spaced apart relationship, each legmember being of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound; arigid bar member joining together one set of ends; neck-like guide meanshaving a smooth outer surface for receiving a length of rope inengagement with said outer surface and guiding it from one leg member tothe other leg member, said guide means extending from said bar memberintermediate the ends thereof in a direction away from the other set ofends; attachment means connected to the exercising device adjacent saidguide means, for fastening the device to a support; and retaining meanson each leg member adjacent the other set of ends for preventing turnsof rope from slipping off of said leg members.
 2. An exercising deviceas defined in claim 1 which includes: a length of rope wrapped at leastpartially around one leg member, thence around the neck-like guidemeans, and at least partially around the other leg member; and a handlemember adjacent each end of the rope.
 3. An exercising deviCe as definedin claim 1 in which the retaining means comprises a rigid member whichextends between the leg members adjacent said other set of ends; andsaid exercising device further includes: a guard member interconnectedwith and extending between the leg members adjacent to and spaced fromthe retaining means a distance greater than the diameter of a rope to beused with the device.
 4. An exercising device as defined in claim 3which includes a disengagable barrier member extending between theretaining means and the guard member separating the space therebetweeninto two passageways.
 5. An exercising device as defined in claim 4 inwhich the barrier member comprises a spring which has one end thereoffastened to the retaining member or the guard member, and the other endthereof engages the other of said retaining or guard member.
 6. Anexercising device as defined in claim 1 in which the neck-like guidemeans has a longitudinal axis which is substantially in the plane formedby the leg members.
 7. An exercising device for use with a length ofrope, comprising: two elongated leg members with opposed sets of endspositioned side-by-side in spaced apart relationship, each leg memberbeing of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound; meansjoining together one set of ends and providing attachment means forfastening the device to a support; a rigid guide bar extending betweenthe leg members adjacent to the attachment means; neck-like guide meanshaving a smooth outer surface extending from the guide bar toward saidattachment means for receiving a length of rope in engagement with saidouter surface and guiding it from one leg member to the other legmember; and retaining means on each leg member adjacent the other set ofends for preventing turns of rope from slipping off of said leg members.8. An exercising device as defined in claim 7 in which the retainingmeans comprises a rigid member which extends between the leg membersadjacent said other set of ends; and said exercising device furtherincludes: a guard member extending between the leg members adjacent toand spaced from the retaining means a distance greater than the diameterof a rope to be used with the device; and a disengagable barrier memberextending between the retaining means and the guard member separatingthe space therebetween into two passageways for a rope.
 9. An exercisingdevice as defined in claim 7 in which the neck-like guide means has alongitudinal axis which is substantially in the plane formed by the legmembers.
 10. An exercising device for use with a length of rope,comprising: two elongated leg members with opposed sets of endspositioned side-by-side in spaced apart relationship, each leg memberbeing of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound; a rigidguide bar interconnecting the leg members adjacent one set of ends;neck-like guide means having an outer end, extending from the guide barfor receiving and guiding a length of rope from one leg member to theother leg member, said guide means extending in a direction away fromthe other set of ends; an aperture adjacent the outer end of theneck-like guide means for attaching the device to a support; andretaining means on each leg member adjacent the other set of ends forpreventing turns of rope from slipping off of said leg members.
 11. Anexercising device as defined in claim 10 in which the retaining meanscomprises a rigid member which extends between the leg members adjacentsaid other set of ends; and said exercising device further includes: aguard member extending between the leg members adjacent to and spacedfrom the retaining means a distance greater than the diameter of a ropeto be used with the device; and a spring-biased disengagable barriermember extending between the retaining means and the guard memberseparating the space therebetween into two passageways for a rope. 12.An exErcising device as defined in claim 10 in which the neck-like guidemeans has a longitudinal axis which is substantially in the plane formedby the leg members.